Neck-yoke and pole coupling.



PATBNTBD 111111.11, 1905. I. P. ABROWNl NECK You AND POLE GOUPLING.

APPLICATION FILEDY MAY 23, 1904.

UNITED STATES Patented April 11, 1905.

IDAHO F. BROWN, OF LITOHFIELD, MINNESOTA.

NEoK-YoKE AND POLE couPLlNe..

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.'786,870, dated April 11, 1905.

Application led May 23, 1904. Serial No. 209,161).

To all whom t may concern:

Beit known that I, IDAHO F. BROWN, a citi- `zen of the United States, residing at Litchfield, in the county of Meeker and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Neck -Yoke and Pole Couplings; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has for its object to provide an improved neck-yoke and pole coupling; and to such ends it consists of the novel devices and combinations of devices hereinafter described, and defined in the claims.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a view principally in side elevation, but with some parts sectioned, on the line x x of Fig.,2, showing my improvedl coupling applied to connect a neck-yoke to a pole. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line :r3 x3 of Fig. 2, some parts being left in full. Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line :r4 of Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section on the line ai c5 of Fig. 3.

The numeral 1 indicates a wagon pole or tongue, and the numeral 2 indicates a neckyoke, parts of the said pole and neck-yoke being broken away. A pole-cap 3 telescopes over the free end of the pole 1 and, as shown, is rigidly secured thereto by screws 4, passed through a rearwardly-projecting flange 5 of the said cap and screwed into the said pole. This pole-cap may, however, be secured in a great many different ways. In adapting the pole-cap 3 for the application thereto of my improved coupling it is formed with a segmental lock-flange 6, which is preferably located onthe upper portion thereof1 and extends circumferentially through p approximately one hundred and eighty degrees, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 5.

A so-called pole-socket 7 is loosely vswiveled on the end of the pole-cap 3 and is provided with a segmental flange 8, that extends 'from therear upper portion thereof throughout alittle less than one hundred and eighty degrees. This ilange 8 is formed with a segmental lock-groove 9, which is adapted to receive the lock-ange 6 of the pole-cap 3 when the said pole-socket 7 is turned into an operative position, as illustrated in the drawings. At the upper outer end portion the pole-socket 7 is biiurcated or formed with ears 10, to which is pivoted by a pin 11 a short trunnion 12, which is headed at its outer end. A so-called yoke-socket 13 is swiveled on the headed end of the pivoted trunnion 12 and is formed with approximately semicylindrical clamping-flanges 111, that embrace and clamp the central portion of the neck-yoke 2. The clamping-{ianges 14 terminate in parallel ribs 15, through which short nutted bolts 16 are passed to clamp the said flanges -14 onto the yoke 2. The seat 17, which is formed in the socket 13 to receive the head of the trunnion 12, opens into the neck-yoke seat formed within the clamping-flanges 14. Hence when the neckyoke is withdrawn from between the clamping-anges 14 and the pivot pin or bolt 11 is removed from working position the said trunnion 12 may be removed from its seat within the socket 13 or may be placed in working position therein.

^ With the above-described coupling device it is evident that the neck-yoke is permitted a substantially universal movement in all directions. One movement is permitted by the rotation or oscillation of the pole-socket 7 on the pole-cap 3, another movement is permitted by the oscillation of the trunnion `12 on the pivot-bolt 11, and still another movement is permitted by the oscillation of the yoke-socket 13von the said trunnion 12.

It isof course evident that the pole-socket 7 will remain locked with the'pole-cap3 under all movements which may be possibly given thereto while the neck-yoke 1s attached to the harness. When, however, the neck-yoke is detached and the coupling is turned upside down, so as to throw the socket-flange 8 and its segmental groove 9 entirely below the lock-flange 6 of the pole-cap 3, it is evident that the said pole-socket, together with the parts attached thereto, may be drawn for- Ward 0H from the pole-cap, thus entirely disconnecting the coupling from the pole. It is also important to note that the detachable pole-socket 7 covers the extreme forward end of the pole-cap, so that the reins cannot catch 0n the latter, and, furthermore, that the said socket itself has no forwardly-projecting portions upon Which the reins may catch. It is also important to note that the coupling above described Will hold the neck-yoke attached to the pole even if one or more of the traces Should become unhoeked or broken. This, as is obvious, is an important feature in itself and will eliminate one of the frequent causes of serious accidents.

The coupling described maybe constructed of any suitable metal; but the )rincip al parts thereof will usually be in the form of malleable castings.

From what has been said it will be understood that the device described is capable of modiiication within the scope of my invention as herein set forth and claimed That I claim, and desire to secure by Let ters Patent of the United States, is as follows:

The combination with the pole-cap 3, having the segmental lock-flange 6, of a polesoeket 7 covering and projecting beyond the end of said pole and having a segmcn tal lockgroove 9 cooperating with said flange 6, to interlock said parts, a coupling-trunnion l2 pivoted to said socket 7 at 11 inward of the closed outer end of said socket, and a neckyoke socket 13 swiveled to said trunnion 12, and provided with approximately scniicylindrical clampingeflanges 14, adapted to embrace the neck-yoke, and means for clamping said flanges onto the neck-yoke, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my sign atnre in presence of two witnesses.

IDAHO F. BROWN. Witnesses R. C. MABEY, F. D. MERCHANT. 

